Thermal management for electronic components

Abstract

A data storage system includes an enclosure, a printed circuit board positioned in the enclosure, an integrated circuit mechanically and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, temperature sensors configured to generate temperature signals in response to measured temperatures, an air mover coupled to the enclosure and including a motor rotatable in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, and a controller configured to cause rotation of the motor in either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction depending on the temperature signals.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A data storage system comprising:
 an enclosure;   a printed circuit board positioned in the enclosure;   an integrated circuit mechanically and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board;   temperature sensors configured to generate temperature signals in response to measured temperatures;   an air mover coupled to the enclosure and including a motor rotatable in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction; and   a controller configured to cause rotation of the motor in either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction depending on the temperature signals.   
     
     
         2 . The data storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink positioned between the air mover and the electronic component, wherein the heat sink is coupled to the electronic component. 
     
     
         3 . The data storage system of  claim 2 , wherein the air mover is directly coupled to the heat sink. 
     
     
         4 . The data storage system of  claim 2 , further comprising a thermal interface material directly coupled to the heat sink and the electronic component. 
     
     
         5 . The data storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chimney positioned between the air mover and a wall of the enclosure.   
     
     
         6 . The data storage system of  claim 5 , wherein the chimney is arranged and shaped to isolate air passing between an exterior of the enclosure and the air mover. 
     
     
         7 . The data storage system of  claim 5 , wherein the chimney comprises a hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The data storage system of  claim 1 , wherein some of the temperature sensors are positioned within the enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The data storage system of  claim 1 , wherein some of the other temperature sensors are positioned outside the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The data storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to operate at multiple speeds. 
     
     
         11 . The data storage system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause rotation of the motor at a first speed or a second different speed depending on the temperature signals. 
     
     
         12 . The data storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow sensor positioned within the enclosure to detect air flow rates. 
     
     
         13 . The data storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause rotation of the motor depending on the air flow rates detected by the flow sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The data storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising an H-bridge circuit electrically coupled between the controller and the air mover. 
     
     
         15 . The data storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensors are electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling rotation directions of a motor of an air mover, the method comprising:
 measuring, using multiple temperature sensors, temperature of air at different locations within a data storage enclosure;   rotating the motor of the air mover in a clockwise direction; and   changing a rotation direction of the motor to a counterclockwise direction depending on the temperature of air measured at the different locations.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 increasing a rotation speed of the motor depending on the temperature signals.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the changing the rotation direction comprises:
 receiving control signals by an H-bridge circuit from a central controller, wherein the H-bridge circuit causes the changing the rotation direction.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 measuring temperature of air at different locations outside the data storage enclosure, wherein the changing the rotation direction further depends on the temperature of air at the different locations outside the data storage enclosure.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a controller configured to generate control signals in response to temperature signals representative of air temperatures at multiple locations within a data storage enclosure; and   an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the controller and configured to drive a motor of an air mover in a first direction, then brake, and then rotate in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.